Former Bishop Jailed Over Drink-Drive Death

A former Episcopal bishop who killed a cyclist in Baltimore while drink driving has been jailed for seven years.

Her blood-alcohol level was 0.22%, nearly three times the 0.08% limit, and prosecutors said she was texting on her phone when she hit 41-year-old Tom Palermo on 27 December.

Her blood level was so high that she couldn’t control herself. UK has strict concerning texting while driving. If she wasn’t texting while driving she wouldn’t have hit Tom Palermo.

Heather Cook, who was once the second highest-ranking Episcopal leader in Maryland, pleaded guilty last month to manslaughter, drunken driving and leaving the scene of an accident.

The impact threw him on to the bonnet of Cook's car and into the windshield. He died from severe head trauma, leaving behind his wife and two young children. Now she has caused his wife to be a widow at a young age, made his children fatherless and his wife now has to fend for her kids alone.

This will teach people not to drink and drive, text while driving or be under the influence of alcohol and still drive.

After testimonies from Tom’s family She finally said these words: "I am so sorry for the pain and agony I have caused. This is my fault and I accept complete responsibility.

At the trial the prosecutors said she left the scene for thirty minutes before returning to the scene of the accident. My guess is she tried to run but her conscience to the better of her. Prosecutors had asked for a 10-year sentence, but Baltimore Circuit Judge Timothy Doory handed down a 20-year sentence with all but seven years suspended.

He said: "I hope everyone can begin now to put these events behind us.

"It is, I trust, a situation where everyone can now focus on the future."

Cook resigned from her position as bishop in May, and her credentials were revoked by the Episcopal Church.

Alisa Rock, Mr Palermo's sister-in-law, said the sentence "could have sent a stronger signal that our community takes driving under the influence and driving while distracted seriously".

I think she has learnt her lesson and she is now remorseful judging from what she told the family. I think her aplogy is sincere but for a minister of her callibre she is a disgrace to the society. Anyway that’s my own opnion.